A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate? (A) Secretary of defense (B) Supreme Court justice (C) Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors (D) Ambassador to Germany (D) (C)

To determine which presidential appointment is most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by a Senate controlled by the opposition party, let's analyze each option: (A) **Secretary of Defense**: This position is crucial for national security, and while there may be some opposition, historically, secretaries of defense have been confirmed even in divided government situations. (B) **Supreme Court Justice**: Appointments to the Supreme Court are highly contentious and can lead to significant political battles, especially if the nominee is perceived as ideologically opposed to the majority in the Senate. (C) **Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors**: This position is important but typically does not face as much scrutiny or political opposition as other high-profile appointments. (D) **Ambassador to Germany**: While this is an important diplomatic position, ambassadors are often confirmed with less controversy compared to cabinet-level positions or Supreme Court justices. Given this analysis, the appointment that is most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by a Senate controlled by the opposition party is: **(B) Supreme Court justice**. This position tends to be the most contentious and politically charged, making it the most likely to face significant opposition.